Editorial Commentary

Perfect Marriages

Saving two others from making terrible mistakes

NOW IS THE WINTER of our discontent brightened by the sun of merger-mania. Got a problem with your business? Merge with somebody else who has a problem with a similar business! Procter & Gamble waltzes down the aisle with Gillette; Sears sets up housekeeping with Kmart; SBC ties a knot with AT&T.

These corporate weddings have something in common, and it's not a good thing. Branded household...